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NIKE Softball Camps!

Nike Softball Camp Embry Riddle University

Nike Softball Camps is back for another year at Embry Riddle University. This camp is a favorite among many for its balance between hard work and fun. Players leave this camp with improved skills, a higher self-confidence, and new friends!

Meet Camp Coaches

Camp Director

Sandra Wente

She was an assistant to Craig Nicholson from 1996-2000 and in 2005. She also was part of two National Championships in 1997 and 1999 at Central Arizona College. As Head Coach she coached 5 ALL-Americans and 32 Conference and Regional Standouts and was an instrumental part in guiding her sophomores to the next level.

Had the privilege in coaching Deanna Mauer in 2007, All-American and NJCAA ALL-Star who helped the 2007 team to a Runner-Up finish in the Regional Championship she went on to play at Son Jose State University. Coached Player of the Year in 2011 Jamie Prussic, who lead the ACCAC her sophomore season in all but one offensive category. She led the NJCAA in homeruns with 30 in one season. In addition, coached Nicole Bryan who as a sophomore stole 67 bases she went on to play at the University of Arizona. Her coaching experience over the past 16 years has ranged from participating in many college camps across the country as an instructor which include Arizona State University, University of Oklahoma, Stanford University, California State Northridge and University of Oregon youth camps and for several years was involved in ASA Junior Olympic softball camps. She is also an active member of the NFCA and has coached numerous NFCA All-Americans.

In the summer 2010, she joined the USA Baseball team as a coach and traveled internationally to compete in The World Cup of Baseball in Maracay, Venezuela. The Team won the Bronze Metal. In 2011, she was asked back to USA trails to scout and be a part of the 2012 USA team selections. Sandra has also been Head Softball Coach at Hutchinson Community College (2002-2004) and an Assistant Coach at Odessa College (2005), where Odessa finished 3rd at the National Tournament in Kissimmee Florida in 2005. After finishing her softball career at New Mexico State under then Head Coach Rick Gamez who played baseball at Central in 1984 she played two years of professional baseball as a catcher and led the league in hitting both years with a 419 average.

Marie Thomason

Marie Thomason is the Head Coach at Embry-Riddle, an Arizona native she comes to Embry-Riddle after serving most recently as an assistant coach at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Prior to Dartmouth, she served as the general manager and head coach of the Virginia Lady Aces Softball Club. Thomason oversaw team activities, practices and games while helping coordinate the day-to-day...

In addition to her travel ball involvement, she brings several years of additional coaching experience, serving as a volunteer coach at Norfolk State University and as an assistant coach at Virginia Wesleyan College. At both of her collegiate stops she has specialized in hitting development as well as training the catchers and infielders. She was also the master instructor and conditioning program manager for Pitch a Fit, an indoor fast pitch facility in Chesapeake, VA.

Thomason spent her playing days as a catcher at Central Arizona College before moving on to Brigham Young-Hawaii where she was a three-year letter winner. Thomason earned her Bachelor of Education from Ottawa University in 2006 and received her Masters in Exercise Science and Wellness from Old Dominion University in 2009. She is a graduate of Cortez High School in Phoenix, AZ.

Camp Details

The Nike Softball Camp at Embry Riddle University is designed to build upon softball current fundamentals of the game and introduce advanced techniques. Campers will be broken into groups based on age and ability to assure the proper instruction.

CHECK-IN

Check-in time and place TBD.

CHECK-OUT

There will be a Graduation Ceremony on the last day of camp at 12:00pm. Campers will check out at 1:00pm.

REGISTRATION PACKET

A detailed camper registration packet containing check-in location, health/release forms, emergency contact info, and a list of things to bring will be emailed to all registered campers prior to camp. The state of Massachusetts requires a doctor's signature and they will be collected on the first day of camp.

OVERNIGHT CAMP

Includes all softball and night activities, all meals from dinner on Sunday to breakfast on Thursday, and double room occupancy in the dorms.

DAY CAMP

Includes all softball and activities, dinner on Sunday, lunch Monday-Wednesday. Day campers will be picked up at 4:00pm each day aside from Thursday when camp ends at 11:30am.

Facilities

Embry Riddle University is located just 90 miles northwest of Phoenix. This beautiful campus covers 539 acres of high-altitude western terrain,with campus life centered in a one-mile area. Campers will have the opportunity to reside in the dorms in the center of campus and train at nearby Pioneer Softball Multi Field Sports Complex.

Sample Daily Schedule

7:00 a.m.Wake-up, breakfast (Overnight Campers)

8:45 a.m.Arrival at the field (Day Campers), Stretching

9:00 a.m.Individual Instruction and Drill Work

11:30 a.m.Lunch/Free Time

1:00 p.m.Position play and Games

4:00 p.m.Day Campers Depart, Free Time, Visit with Friends

5:00 p.m.Dinner

6:15 p.m.Chalk Talks/Relax

8:30 p.m.Evening Activity

10:00 p.m.Back to Rooms/Lights Out

Camper Reviews

Overnight Camper

5/5.

I Met So Many Friends

"I never thought meeting new friends would be so easy. Can't wait to see them again next summer at camp!"

Overnight Camper

5/5.

Honest Assessment of My Skills

"I've been playing competitive travel softball for five years now yet I felt the coaches at this camp helped me improve my game in many ways. They showed me where I needed improvement and were very honest in their assessments of my skills. They recommended coaches to help me continue to improve after the camp - and I really appreciate that."

Day Camper

5/5.

Thanks for another great experience

"The director and her staff were very positive and seemed to make all the girls love to play. This is my second time doing the camp and I would do it again. Thanks for another great experience and great memories."

Overnight Camper

5/5.

I Hope to Go Back Every Year

"The camp was very well-planned out and had a good program. The times to wakeup eat and play were reasonable and the instructors knew exactly what they were doing and taught the campers in an easy-to-understand way. I hope to go back every year!"

Parent

5/5.

Taught My Daughter More Softball & Being A Young Lady

"I cannot put into words the experience my daughter gained from going to the camp. She not only learned skills in softball but how to be a better young lady. The morals and values the staff brought to the camp were extraordinary. We looked at sending her to another camp and decided on the NIKE Camp for convenience and I am so glad we did. She was going to be a day camper but when we got there she saw some friends and we were able to change her to be an overnight camper. I will highly recommend this camp to anyone who is interested in gaining skills and personal growth. We look forward to next year!!"

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